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{
    "id": 1086056,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1086056/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 122,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Tinderet, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Julius Melly",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 12849,
        "legal_name": "Julius Kipbiwot Melly",
        "slug": "julius-kipbiwot-melly"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I rise to support this Bill. I also want to congratulate the Chairperson and the Departmental Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations. As it has been said, this Bill seeks to right the wrongs that have been in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations for quite some time. It is known that in the community of nations, it is very important to have clear professional, foreign relations service for betterment of services for our citizens and relations in the international community. This Bill therefore, seeks to establish a very clear professional functioning foreign relations. In clauses 3 to 7, it looks at the functions of the Cabinet Secretary vis-à-vis the functions of the Principal Secretary. For smooth foreign relations, it ensures that nation’s projections in the community of nations are upheld. Today, a number of countries in the world flex their muscles through proper projections of their foreign images. This Bill does so through a well established diplomatic system, well planned structure of foreign relations and this requires a very competent staff, well trained ambassadors, high commissioners, attachés and even junior staff who are able to project a nation’s image properly. A nation’s image is very important internationally, especially because it has influence on matters that affect her and her interests globally. A case in point is that even within international organisations such as United Nations, African Union, regional bodies such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and East African Community, a well-organised foreign service is able to take the image of a country to the next level. This Bill looks at a number of issues. It first looks at the staffing of embassies. It has come to the notice of this House and even at times Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker that even some members appointed as ambassadors are politicians. Some of them do not even have the requisite skills to project our image abroad. You realise that even qualifications for attachés have clearly been put. Moreover, even qualifications for members of particular specialised ministries and agencies are clearly stated. A trained attaché needs to have a lot of knowledge on negotiation skills in trade, education, military, and many others. Therefore, it is quite important. Additionally, it has also come out how to appoint honorary consuls who are going to assist nations in many other areas. Therefore, this is quite important, I support the Bill, and this is actually the right way to go. Thank you, I support."
}